Chapter 18: Control

"You excited?"

"What?" Ginny asked, looking up from her bowl of porridge.

"I said, are you excited?" Demelza asked.

"About what?"

"Come on, Ginny. What could I be asking you about?"

"Uh…" Ginny stuttered. Was she missing something? "Obviously I don't know, so just tell me."

"In Ginny's defense, there are a lot of things going on," Lucy argued. "There is the second task…"

"But only one thing is going on today."

What could it be then? It was the third week of December. Term was ending in a couple of days.

"… the Yule ball, vacation…"

"Everyone cut it out," Brian said. "Demelza is asking about the Imperius Curse lessons Moody is planning for today."

"Oh. That," Ginny replied with a roll of her eyes. It had taken Mad-Eye weeks to get permission from the headmaster to perform the Unforgivable on the third years while the fourth years didn't need any additional consideration. It just didn't seem fair.

"That's it? No yes, definitely or absolutely? Are you feeling alright?" Jack asked.

"Stuff it, Jack. I'm fine. I'm just not that excited."

"There's the Ginny we know and love," Jack replied, giving an exaggerated sigh of relief. "You had me worried there for a minute."

"How come?" Demelza asked.

"I don't know. Everyone says it should be a great lesson, but I just… don't care?" Some nagging voice inside her said the class was going to be a spectacularly bad idea.

"It should be a really good educational experience," Brian insisted.

"And a lot of fun," Demelza retorted. "Come on Brian. Get your priorities straight."

"They are. You should look at yours."

"Ouch, he got you Dem."

"No! No nicknames," Demelza rounded on Jack.

"How about Za?"

"No. I will not share the same name as a food!"

"Challenge accepted."

"That wasn't a challenge!"

"What food?" Lucy asked.

"My guess, lasagna or pizza," Brian replied.

"I have new pictures," Colin announced, oblivious to the… argument… he was interrupting.

"Awesome! How far back do these go?" Lucy asked.

"Three weeks. The earliest in this set are from the first task."

The Gryffindors cleared space from the breakfast table, and Colin spread the photos. The first set were from the task: Cedric Diggory transfigured a dog for the dragon, Fleur Delacour's dragon snorted fire, Viktor Krum's dragon went on a blind rampage, and Harry Potter flew in circles over his Horntail's head. There were more photos of Harry's task than the others, but no one complained because… damn Colin had gotten good at taking pictures. Some of them were better than those featured in the Prophet.

The party followed, with photos of Dean's giant Harry head banner, the spread Fred, George, and Lee set up, and Harry being lifted air while raising the golden egg in victory. There were a couple pictures of Jack's antics followed by… How the hell did Colin get a photo of Ginny throwing up? She had been in the girl's dormitory. Ginny fixed Lucy with her worst glare, but the girl just shrugged in reply. There was some payback due for that. Ginny just needed to come up with the right prank.

There were pictures of Ginny, Demelza and Jack all collapsed around the breakfast table, nursing their hangovers. Colin had several of the snowball fight their year held the following weekend. He even had picture of the Durmstrang ship with the tentacles of the giant squid framed in the background.

"As always, let me know if you want copies of any of the pictures," Colin told his friends.

"Definitely."

"Absolutely."

"Can we forget this morning happened," Demelza asked, holding up the hangover picture.

"Not a chance. It's a priceless memory," Jack replied. "Can I get two copies of it?"

"Sure," Colin replied. "You know, I've been meaning to ask you all… I had an idea to put all of the photos I took this year together into a single album. I could use some help putting it together, but I'd give everyone a copy at the end of the year."

"Brilliant idea! Count me in," Lucy exclaimed.

"Ditto," Ginny replied.

"Uh… I don't want to be that guy again, but class starts in five minutes and we really need to get moving," Brian said.

The assembled Gryffindors grumbled but gathered their bags and rushed to class.


Luna was looking forward to the DADA lesson as she climbed the stairs to the classroom. She had been having breakfast in the kitchens – toast with peanut butter and jam – and would have left earlier, but she had been detained by a distraught Winky. The elf thought her master had gotten sick and kept insisting, "Master is needing his Winky."

Dobby was the only elf that really tolerated Winky. The other elves were satisfied by keeping her clean, fed, and out of the way. Luna understood their way thinking. When she first met Winky and Dobby, she did some research into freed house elves. Most of them died within two years of being freed, having given up on life. While Dobby seemed to have adjusted to freedom well with his fascinating interest in fashion, Winky spiraled into depression. There was little to be done for a house elf who refused to work and fixated on the past, but it was still heart wrenching to watch another living creature give up on life.

It was not a great mindset to go to class with, particularly with the upcoming Imperius practical. She needed to be on her game, not focused on a problem with no good solutions. Rushing in right before class started was also risky. Things tended to… happen… to delay her when she cut it this close. She shuddered with the memory of going to Herbology after getting hit in the head by a ball of mud. She mostly ignored the jokes about her moving into a cave under the Whomping Willow, but one of the Hufflepuff's comments that the mud brought out her eyes really irked her. The girl had even sounded sincere. Is that what people thought of her? That she would intentionally put mud in her hair as a… a… fashion statement?

Professor Moody – Luna refused to think of him as Mad-Eye since she was too well aware of the harm hurtful nickname could cause – usually kept good order around his classroom with his magical eye, so Luna thankfully arrived on time without much trouble, and took seat at the side of the room. He was one of the faculty that she most respected. His teaching methods were harsh but never unfair. Most importantly, he lived following the rules he taught. He practiced the art of paranoia while his sudden cries of "Constant Vigilance" kept the students on their toes. He followed the law religiously and had little tolerance for students who bent or broke rules. He believed in the value of truth and told students exactly how they were doing, be it good, bad, or terrible. His classes were a refreshing burst of brutal honesty.

"Books and wands away," Moody announced as he stomped out of his office. "Today I'm going to be putting the Imperius curse on each of you. This way, you will know that it feels like if anyone ever tries to use it to control you. Exposure can cause the slow development of a natural resistance to the spell in most people. So far, I have found three seventh years and a fourth year who have been able to break free. I doubt any of you will be able to throw off the curse, but I've been surprised before. CONSTANT VIGILANCE!"

Several students jumped at the yell, but most were accustomed to the former Auror's sudden outbursts.

"As I said last week, this lesson is completely voluntary. The Imperius curse makes you vulnerable. However, the Headmaster and I feel it is better to be exposed to this in a safe, classroom setting than in the real world where your lives and the lives of your friends and family will Be On The LINE!" Moody paused, but no one left the room. "This may embarrass some of you, but I expect that Mr. Creevey's camera will remain in his bag at all times. If I catch anyone here teasing another student for what happens during this lesson, I will personally ensure you have learned proper respect by the end of the year."

The professor's magical eye scanned over the silent classroom, and Luna felt the threat sink in.

"Lovegood, you're up first."

Luna found herself walking to the front of the classroom. Did he plan this – picking her to go while the threat was still in the air – or was it just a coincidence?

"Take a deep breath, Lovegood. Three. Two. One. Imperio."

Luna felt the spell wash over her, and suddenly all her anxiety and worry melted away. Her mind was a calm lake and she floated peacefully. For some reason, she kept thinking of the smell in the Divination classroom. She felt almost sleepy.

Pat your head. A voice drifted across her mind. Luna felt her hand moving up to the top of her head. She was just so tired.

The world started to blur. It was almost like there were two Moodys in front of her.

Good. Now jump up and down. Her knees bent down to jump, and her hand fell to her side.

There were two. The assailant and the victim, yet both played both roles.

Don't stop patting your head.

There was another presence there. The faintest trace of another mind. A scar.

Now spin in a circle.

The third presence echoed, almost like there were two scars in the room as well.

"That's enough," Moody's voice cut across the haze and the spell vanished. Luna felt herself wabble as she regained control of her body. "Meadows, you're next."

Luna returned to her desk as Olivia took her place in front of the class. That was incredibly strange.

Another thing to ponder while waiting for her father's reply.


Ginny watched as Mad-Eye slowly made his way through the Ravenclaws, having each do increasingly impressive feats of acrobatics. None managed to shake off the curse, although one of the guy's faces turned bright red and he started shivering while under the spell, but Mad-Eye didn't mention anything about it, so Ginny assumed it was probably just a bad reaction.

The Gryffindor's started with Lucy, who juggled five of the glass jars Mad-Eye kept under the window, and Jack who performed a handstand and a rather impressive cartwheel.

"Cut it out Murphy. I canceled the spell," Mad-Eye's said in his gruff voice.

"I know Professor. It's just I never have been able to get this right before. I wanted to make sure I remember how to do it," Jack replied.

"Back to your seat, lad. Weasley, you're next."

Jack patted her on the back as she passed him. "Good luck."

"Ready?" Mad-Eye asked.

Ginny hadn't been looking forward to the lesson, but Mad-Eye's speech at the start of class convinced her. It was necessary training. She nodded.

"Imperio."

A calm settled across Ginny. The peace of flying but without the rush. A clear sky and a cool breeze but without the motion. Almost like… a sunrise…

…There was someone else there…

Ginny knew she was still standing in front of the classroom. She knew Mad-Eye had put the curse on her. She just didn't care enough to do anything about it.

… Someone who shouldn't be there…

Up on the table. Ginny felt her body brace to follow the command. She tried to stop but couldn't seem to muster the strength to resist. She couldn't find a reason to want too.

Hello Ginerva

She wasn't standing in the classroom anymore. She was underground. Tom was there.

…Her legs weren't working…

She was on the ground. He was out of the diary. She tried to crawl away. She didn't have the strength. She didn't have the will to, no matter how much she tried.

…Her head was pounding…

Up on the table. The voice echoed across the Chamber, but Ginny couldn't hear it. All she could hear was Tom laughing.

…Her mouth was open…

Just Tom laughing.

…Her chest was shaking…

You can't escape me, Ginerv, Tom said, suddenly in front of her. I am you.

…She was screaming…

"Weasley. Can you hear me?"

The world snapped back into focus. She was on the ground. Mad-Eye was kneeling in front of her.

"Yeah." Her voice was hoarse. She could barely tell it was her own.

"How are you feeling?"

"Head," Ginny replied. Feeling had returned to her muscles. She thought she could stand if she tried, but her head was pounding.

"Vance, take Weasley up to the infirmary. Have Madam Pomfrey give her a calming draught. I'll be there after class."

"Come on Ginny," Lucy's voice said. Ginny felt her friend pull her up. There was motion across the classroom. Other students had stood as well.

"Stay in your seat Murphy. Lovegood too. I know you both went already, but Vance can take her. Same goes for all of you."

"Let's go," Lucy insisted, guiding her out of the classroom.

"I can walk on my own."

"Sure, you can. I'm just giving you a bit of help."

"What happened?"

"Let's get you to the infirmary. You'll feel better in no time."

"Tell me what happened?"

"Moody put the spell on you, and you just collapsed and started screaming. It was terrifying. How are you feeling?"

"Bit better."

"That's good. We're almost there."

"Didn't this just happen," Ginny asked, feeling a strong sense of déjà vu.

"Sort of."

"At least I'm not hammered."

Lucy laughed. "Just promise you won't throw up on my shoes this time."

It took another few minutes to climb up to the infirmary where Ginny collapsed gratefully onto the bed while Lucy explained what occurred to Madam Pomfrey. ("Using the Imperius curse on students. What was the headmaster thinking?") The Matron retrieved a bottle from her office and measured out a bright red potion for her patient. It started to take effect immediately, and Ginny relaxed as the headache receded. Lucy pulled up a chair and kept a silent vigil as Ginny rested.

As the clock struck eleven, the room was invaded by concerned Gryffindor third years being trailed by a solitary Ravenclaw. "How are you feeling?"

"What happened?"

"Is Ginny going to be alright?"

"This is a hospital, not a common room. You should all be in class," Madam Pomfrey scolded as she marched out of her office.

"We just got out. There is a whole fifteen minutes before the next lesson," Alex protested. Ginny didn't expect him to be here. He was almost always with Albert the Hufflepuff or with some friends from one of the clubs. Vicky Frobisher even came, and she almost never hung out with the rest of the group. Everyone must be seriously freaked out.

"You can't kick us out. Ginny needs us," Demelza said.

"Please, ma'am. We just want to know how our friend is doing," Brian pleaded.

"Ms. Weasley will be fully recovered by this afternoon, but what she needs now is quiet."

Ginny heard the thumping of a wooden leg on stone and the gruff voice of Mad-Eye said, "Besides lads, I need to speak to Ms. Weasley alone, so all of you out. Yes. Even you Vance. Five points to Gryffindor for getting Weasley up here."

Ginny's friends gave her a combination of sad and encouraging looks and followed the Professors instructions. Madam Pomfrey returned to her office, giving the teacher and student privacy.

"Are you feeling better Weasley?"

"Yes sir. Madam Pomfrey gave me something for the headache, and I'm much better now."

Mad-Eye nodded. "You always struck me as a tough kid." – his praise hade Ginny swell with pride – "Those with resistance to the Imperius curse usually can throw the curse off. Takes a lot of exposure to the curse or skill in Occlumency. Resistance lets people ignore the effects of the curse, but it doesn't make people faint. I have only ever seen two people react in a similar way to that curse. First was an Unspeakable back during the War. Saw some Death Eaters try to catch him with the Imperius curse. He broke down. Collapsed. Took him days to recover, but they couldn't use him. He was assassinated shortly after. Enemy is too smart to leave reliable assets like that around. Never was able to figure out exactly what made him resistant."

"I don't understand."

"Didn't think you would. Doubt you have much in common with that Unspeakable. The second was a thrall of a minor dark wizard well after Grindelwald but before the Dark Lord really came to power. He mainly controlled her by possession. One day, a rival tried to seize control of the thrall – never was sure if it was the Imperius curse or direct possession – but the thrall became catatonic. Does that seem familiar Weasley?"

"Not really."

"You're a good liar, but you need more practice, and I don't have time to play this game. Now, I'm left wondering how a third year from a good wizarding family is showing symptoms of long-term possession."

"I'm not possessed."

"I know that, but you were for at least a few months. Possession is a heinous crime, particularly possession of a child. I want you to tell me what happened."

Ginny closed her eyes to avoid Mad-Eye's stare and think. She didn't want to say anything, but Dad trusted Mad-Eye. He always said he was the best Auror in history. Dumbledore seemed to trust him too. The only reason not to say anything was to save herself embarrassment. On the other hand, Tom was gone. It was over. There was no one left to punish… except the person who gave her the diary. Mad-Eye, as an ex-Auror, might be able to stop them or at least pass the information on to those who could. "Do you know what happened in Hogwarts two years ago?"

"Yeah. Dumbledore told me. Heir of Slytherin set a Basilisk loose on the castle again."

"I was the one who did it. I attacked them. Everyone."

"You better start making sense girl."

"I was possessed by the spirit of You-Know-Who trapped in an old diary. Harry Potter killed it and saved me. I never found out who planted the diary on me."

Mad-Eye closed his eyes and sighed. "You sure it was destroyed?"

"Yes. Harry stabbed it with a Basilisk fang. Do you think you could find whoever gave me the diary? I'm over it, and I don't really care if they get punished, but I don't want them to hurt someone else."

"I'll find the negligent bastard who planted it in the hands of a child to set loose on this school. You can count on it. They'll never do something like that again," Mad-Eye replied, both of his eyes filled with fury. "Thank you for telling me Weasley."

"Can I ask you a question sir?"

"Go ahead."

"You made it sound like possession and the Imperius curse are different."

"They are. If I used the Imperius on you – well, not you you, but a hypothetical you – it would force you into a highly suggestible state and make you follow to instructions sent from my mind to yours. While I force you to do what I want, I never change or confront YOU. In possession, I would seize control of your mind, attacking YOU and directly controlling your body. I would feel everything you feel, see everything you see, and control your every action."

"So how can you fight them."

"It's incredibly hard to possess someone. It required detailed knowledge of their mind and emotions. It's easy to stop the process early, but once in place, you're pitting mind against mind and the attacker is almost always stronger. For the Imperius curse, the attacker never enters. They merely send. All it takes to block is to learn how to close your mind off, either naturally through lots of exposure or through the study of occlumency."

"Then why could I throw it off."

"You didn't. The curse just triggered a bigger emotional reaction in your mind than it could suppress. I think you can figure out why that happened on your own. I'm late for my next class," Mad-Eye said. He marched to the door and left Ginny alone with her thoughts.


Madam Pomfrey released Ginny just after lunch, but she elected to skip the afternoon classes. She only had History of Magic and Divination and… well… she had a lot on her mind. Moody might be going after the one who planted the diary which meant everything would be dragged into the public eye. Beyond the growing sense of dread, the whole incident just showed how she was still carrying scars just below the surface. It made her feel like a fucking time-bomb.

She made her way back to the Gryffindor common room and turned the final corner to collide with Neville. His book bag went flying and there was the sickening crunch of a shattering ink bottle.

"Shit! I am so so so sorry," Ginny said as she scrambled to remove the books and notes from the rapidly spreading puddle of ink. Shit. Some of the notes were already ruined.

"It's fine. It was an accident," Neville replied as he tried to shake some of the ink from one of his books. "I've actually been looking for you. I heard you were sick or something?"

"No! There was just a bit of an accident during DADA."

"Okay. Sorry for asking."

"No, Neville. Don't be sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you. It's just been a long day. Here, let me try to clear the ink out of the bag," Ginny said, drawing her wand.

"Don't worry about it. It's mostly dry already," Neville insisted, returning the scattered school supplies. "That's not the reason I was looking for you."

"Oh?"

"Yeah… You know how the Yule Ball is going to be during break, and… well… I asked Hermione and she already is going with someone and… um… would… would you like to come with me?"

Ginny froze. Merlin. He wanted to ask her to the ball, and she just ruined his bag. Bloody hell.

"I know third years normally can't go and I would totally understand if someone else already asked you because you're… well… awesome and cool and smart… but if no one did and if you wanted to go… well… I'd love to take you…"

"Yes."

"Wait what? Really?"

"Yeah. Thank you for inviting me."

"Great! Terrific!"

"I'll see you later, Neville, and I'm sorry again about the bag."

"What? Oh. Forget about that." Neville replied with a brilliant smile. "I'll see you later."

Ginny couldn't help but smile as Neville walked away with a definite spring in his step. So, Hermione had a date to the ball that wasn't Harry or Ron or Neville. It looked like they were due for a conversation, especially now that she had exciting news to share as well.